Ervin Defeated in US Amateur

Aug. 24, 2005

There will not be a repeat US Amateur champion from Clemson at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. Tanner Ervin, Clemson’s last remaining player in the 105th US Amateur was defeated in the first round of match play on Wednesday by Duke All-American Ryan Blaum, 1-up.

Ervin was trying to duplicate the accomplishment of Chris Patton 16 years ago. Patton, then a rising senior at Clemson, won the US Amateur at the same Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. Patton is still the only golfer with ties to Clemson to win the US Amateur.

Ervin was the only Clemson golfer to make the field of 64 for the match play portion of the event this year, as he shot a 144 for the 36 holes, good enough for 24th. Jack Ferguson and Stephen Poole, two members of Clemson’s 2005 team, competed in stroke play, but did not make the final 64 for the match play.

Ervin got off to a rough start on Wednesday and never could overcome Blaum, the reigning ACC champion who led the Blue Devils to the ACC Championship this past April. Blaum won the first four holes and was five up seven holes into the match. But, Ervin made a late charge, winning holes 14, 15 and 16 to close to within one hole. But the two golfers tied on 17 and 18 and Blaum came up with the win, 1-up.